The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-11-30

pareh for the task. In proportion as
the Press is composed of educated or
ignorant men, will be the good done
10y it. In inefficient and u%nscrupu-
lous hands it is q power for evil; i'm
proper hands it is one of the greatest
blessings of the age.
The third department Of the news
paper, the literary, usually considered
least essential, but which belongs inst
as much to the functions of Il good
newspaper Us either of the other two.
In this hasty age when so MANY men
pay to nothing which does
not partake of business, and when so
many others care only for what is
news and sensational, the literary part
OF a newspaper is tOo little regarded.
and not sufficiently appreciated bv the
readers ut large. 1t has been more or
less dropped from our dailies, and con-
signed to the Review or Magazine. al
though 1t Is ono of the best features of
a good newspaper. It's great advan-
tage is that it throws information in
the way of those who would otherwise
not seek it, and provides chief instruc-
ton for the many.
Ihls part of our paper which is so
much neglected in our dailies, receives
more attention from our weeklies.
The introduction of "patent ont
sides" enables them to provide cheap-
~ much good matter which if thew
wouid attempt to get up themselves
would nc very expensive and much
more troublesome. For readers who
nave not the advantage of daily mails
these are perhaps more suitable than
any other paper. Besides the news of
the day and local items they furnish
much useful information upon farm,
household and other topics, as we'll as
good stories and light reading. These
'outsidcs' being printed by the thou
SAND are very cheap, and If properly
conducted may be made the means Of
giving cheap library to the people.
1here Is another feature of the news
paper which while forming no direct
ana constitutes one of it's greatest adj
vantages. Besides aiming itself. at
guiding popular thought, it offers to
n II all a. medium through which
tney may give free expression to their
views II opinions. Through the
newspaper may be discussed both sides
or every question, and the merits of
every case presented. The Press thus
becomes an arbiter Of all differences, a
tribunal before which all causes NAV
be pleaded.
The newspaper as an advertising
agency must be considered rather as a
business enterprise, than as n factor in
the enlightenment of the world. Yet
as q ready means of communicating
the wants or II class to another
winch may be able to supply them,
ana thus facilitating the eq%ualization
OF demand II supply, this feature of
the newspaper contributes much to
lne ntlSInpSo fNr0SS,nrftYy 80
world. But while valuable in this re-
spect. it leads to much corruption and
to an abuse of the power confided to
the Press.
The chief revenue Of most of our
newspapers comes from their adver-
tlsements, and the newspaper would
scarcely be a paying investment if it
were not for this item. AS the reve-
hue from this source is sometimes
enormous capital is attracted to the
paper as n business enterprise, and be-
lore this consideration others are lost
sight of.
The business of the proprietor is to
increase the circulation, and thus adj
vance the value of his newspaper as
an advertising Medium. To this end
n editor and his staff are too often
induced to pander to whatever NAV at
tract the popular eye. The most dis
gushing details of crime and domestic
analrs are paraded in conspicuous fash
ion the literary and moral standard
gives place to whatever is news or SEN
satIonal. 1t is only when the paper is
conducted from motives of private in
stead of public interests, that the pa
per becomes a danger instead of a
blessing.
Conducted on proper principles, it is
one or the greatest institutions of the
day; it exercises a supervision over all
public affairs, and watches over the
interests OF rich and poor alike. It
furnishes q ready means of inter-
change or thoughts and ideas, and by
contributing to the grand communion
between man and his fellowmep. it
draws into closer contact all corners of
the world, and thus promotes the
cause of civilization.